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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to impact your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have lots of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can lead to stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped one beat. If you experience only one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge the heart's rate over 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to see how many PVCs you have.
repairmywindowsanddoors who have had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.
Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether the patient has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your physician about the medications that could be able to reduce the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercises.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes for the extra beats.
Most people with PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a transplant in certain people.